This trip will take us South Tyrol and Trentino, in the northernmost part of Italy near the Austrian and Swiss borders. The area was part of the Austria-Hungary Empire until the end of World War I, when it was ceded to Italy. This lead to a mixing of Italian flair with Austrian customs, which is reflected in habits and food..
If you are looking for a biking trip that will take you to some of the most beautiful and charming places in Italy, then Umbria and Tuscany are the perfect destinations for you. You will get to explore the amazing landscape of these regions, with rolling hills and their cypresses, villas and their vineyards, historic hill towns and their castles and cathedrals. You will also get to taste famous and tasty local food of Umbria and Tuscany, which is based on simple ingredients, but rich in flavor and variety. And you will get to learn about the long history and culture of these regions, especially of Assisi, the birthplace of Saint Francis, the patron saint of animals and ecology.
On your bike you will see horses and carriages, gypsies with mules, Moorish-inspired houses with big chimney pots and whitewashed villages stretching over hills. We´ll cycle through Medieval towns clustered with churches and castles that were part of the fortifications against the Spanish. Medieval hilltop towns are simply magnificent. Local crafts and arts are flourishing, especially pottery and paintings. History is plentiful; there are prehistoric remains and Roman ruins abound. Great wines that are unknown in the USA are abundant. We will learn about the varieties and taste all we wish.